GL-Tech pool closed in wake of tragedy

Community mourns apparent drown victim

TYNGSBORO -- As Greater Lowell Technical High students mournfully returned to school on Wednesday, a day after a classmate drowned in the school pool, students learned that they are banned from the pool area for the rest of the school year.

School Superintendent-Director Mary Jo Santoro closed the pool in the wake of 15-year-old freshman Danny Svay's apparent drowning on Tuesday. The closure comes four days after the pool was renamed for longtime gym teacher Patricia McGuirk.

Svay, of Lowell, apparently drowned at 11:40 a.m.

Students are not allowed to enter the pool's doors for the rest of the year, said Michael McGovern, director of school information.

Outside swimming groups, including ones from Tyngsboro, Tewksbury and Dracut, will also have to relocate for the remainder of the school year, McGovern said.

Santoro did not return calls seeking comment on Wednesday.

Svay was found unresponsive and pulled from the bottom of the pool, according to Tyngsboro Deputy Police Chief Richard Howe. Tyngsboro police, fire, Trinity Ambulance and Greater Lowell paramedics performed CPR at the scene, and Svay was then transported to Lowell General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Why the student was in the pool and whether he was being supervised is still unclear, as authorities released little information.

"This appears to be an accidental drowning," according to a statement from Howe.

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"An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the drowning are ongoing and are being conducted by the Tyngsboro Police Department, Massachusetts State Police in conjunction with the Middlesex District Attorney's office. Greater Lowell Technical High School is fully cooperating with the investigation."

The investigation will include interviews of staff and students, Howe said. The chief medical examiner will also do an autopsy, according to Stephanie Guyotte, spokeswoman for Middlesex District Attorney Gerard Leone. She said there's no timeframe on the investigation.

"We'll look at all the factors," Guyotte said. "It appears that there was no foul play involved. It doesn't appear to be criminal in nature."

The pool is located in the sports pavilion, which is a separate wing from the main building; it's attached to the main building with a second-floor hallway. There are no classrooms in the area, so there is no reason for students to cut through the pool to get to class, McGovern said.

The tennis courts, soccer field and softball field surround it. The pool is on the first level with the main gymnasium above it.

The pool has one diving board for the deep end, but McGovern wasn't sure about the depth of deep end. There are two locker-room entrances, but McGovern couldn't identify the number of other entrances to the pool area.

Students returned to class on Wednesday with dozens writing "L.I.F.E." on their wrists as a tribute to Svay and his Facebook status update posted about 13 hours before his death. His status update, "L.I.F.E. - Live It Fully Everyday," went viral around social media as news spread that he had drowned on Tuesday.

On Wednesday the school was flooded with posters that read "RIP Danny," according to social media; his locker was full with flowers and notes.

Students also signed a memorial banner in the "marketing mall" area, according to McGovern. There's no discussion yet of a permanent memorial, he said.

It was very quiet in the building as students came back on Wednesday, McGovern said.

"It's very somber," he said. "We're trying to get through the tragic event and deal with the grief. This affects everybody here. Our sincerest condolences go out to the family."

On Wedneday morning, the school website read, "The Greater Lowell family is deeply saddened by Tuesday's tragic event. We extend our sincere condolences to the family of Danny Svay."

Students had access to grief counselors throughout Wednesday and will have access over the next few days, McGovern said. School guidance counselors and 10 counselors from the city of Lowell assisted in the grief counseling.

"We're here for them and are focusing on making sure the students and staff have the support," he said.

McGovern said that a guidance counselor, discipline staff member and a parent liaison visited with Svay's family at the hospital on Tuesday. McGovern wouldn't comment on the investigation.

School Committee member Erik Gitschier said the board hasn't met with the superintendent for details on the incident. He believes they will learn details on Thursday night at the School Committee meeting.

"My heart goes out to the family in this difficult time," Gitschier said. "I can't imagine getting a phone call like that.

According to Svay's Facebook profile, he was interested in Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, martial arts and cars.

He was also on the Greater Lowell Tech cross country team. Head coach Robert Dick brought the teammates together after they learned the tragic news, and shared some memories of Svay.

"Everyone felt lucky to have known him and lucky to have run with him," Dick said. "He was well-liked by his teammates, and everyone had positive things to say about him.

"I just feel very sad for his family," he added.

Svay made the first-term honor roll in December, according to Greater Lowell Tech's honor-roll listing.

He also worked weekends as a bagger at Market Basket on 288 Chelmsford St., Chelmsford, according to store manager George Koumpouras.

"This is tragic," Koumpouras said. "I don't understand how these things can happen. Wasn't someone on duty? How can this happen?"

The store manager said he didn't know Svay too well, but "all the people who worked with him are going to miss him," Koumpouras said.

Svay's family was not home when The Sun approached for an interview. Relatives said that the Svays disconnected their phone lines a few months ago.

Tuesday's incident is the second local school pool death in less than a year. Eddie Gayyean, 17, of Lowell, was found in the pool at Lowell High School last August. The death was ruled an accidental drowning, but Lowell police continue to investigate.

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